A new study in the journal Nature shows that closing coal plants saves lives and increases crop yields nearby. This is because when a coal plant is closed, air pollution decreases right away – especially nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. Within a year health benefits are seen, and crop yields nearby also improve. Closing coal plants saved 26,000 lives from 2005-2016, and nearby farms produced over 500 million more bushels of crops.
By shifting to clean renewable energy, we can save lives, improve agriculture, and fight climate change. We will also save a lot on health care expenses.
News article about the study: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/476962-shuttering-of-coal-plants-has-saved-26k-lives-in-us-study
The study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0453-5 (You can also access this article by clicking a link in the Hill news article.)
